Spray carnation named Medley

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive spray carnation cultivar particularly distinguished by its medium size flowers having a pink color and round petals that are carried on an erect thick stem having more than 120 leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This spray carnation cultivar originated as a hybrid seedling producedin my nursery at Le Pradet, France by my crossing of two plants,hereinafter identified, selected from a field of various carnationvarieties maintained at my nursery for breeding purposes. Thisparticular seedling was selected from those produced by the saidcrossing because of the unusual flower coloration on a plant havingmoderately abundant foliage, favorable growth characteristics andresistance to Fusarium oxysporum. After isolation of the selected plant,vegetative propagation was made by cuttings. The said propagation wasmade at our laboratory located in Le Pradet (France). Under mydirection, propagation was done by means of cuttings. The initialsuccess of the propagation continued through several successivegenerations which proved that the new variety retained all of thedistinguished characteristics hold true from generation to generationand appear to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

My new spray carnation cultivar is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographic drawing which, in full color, shows the form and colorationof the flowers as they appear. The colors shown are as nearly true tothese herein specified as is reasonably possible to obtain byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new carnation plant asobserved from plants grown under greenhouse conditions in Le Pradet,France with the stated flower colors being according to The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin:

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Plant number 83MP8.

Pollen parent.--Plant number 82MG7. These parent plants are soidentified in my business records of the present cultivar maintained atthe office of the Le Pradet, France nursery and the production of theaforementioned hybrid and the selected seedling are also there recorded.

Classification:

Botanic.--Dianthus caryophyllus L.

Commercial.--Spray carnation.

Form: An erect bush having at least 4 stems emitted near the groundhaving vigorous upright growth habit.

Height: About 75 cm (at 8 months)

Cane length: Less than 15 cm.

Branching character: Moderately branched.

Strength: Moderately rigid.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Moderately abundant.

Number of leaves.--More than 120.

Size and shape of leaf.--The leaf is 11.5×0.8 cm. at the 7th node and isspindle-shaped.

Margin type.--Straight.

Texture.--Leathery.

Color.--Upper side -- RHS 137B. Under side -- RHS 137B.

THE BUD

Size:

Shape.--Ovoid.

Diameter.--1.4 cm.

Length.--2.6 cm.

Color of petals.--When sepals first divide -- RHS 39-D; When sepalsbegin to unfurl -- RHS 39D.

Rate of opening: Normal.

Sepals:

Shape.--Joined at the lower part and sharp-pointed at extremity,"hooded" over bud.

Number.--5 to 6.

Color.--Inside: Pea green RHS 149D and 137D. Outside: Green RHS 137C and144C

Striae.--Longitudinal striae.

Calyx:

Shape.--Cylindrical.

Size.--Long.

Aspect.--Smooth.

Splitting.--No. Color: RHS144C.

Peduncle:

Length.--About 57 cm.

Character.--Erect, rigid.

Color.--RHS 137B.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Recurrent and profuse.

Size of bloom: Medium.

Diameter.--About 5.8 cm.

Depth.--About 4.7 cm.

Borne: Cluster.

Shape: High center when bloom first opens, dome when bloom matures.

Number of blooms per cluster.--An average of 6 between March and May.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--36 to 44.

Form.--Fan-shaped.

Texture.--Leathery.

Appearance.--Satiny.

Color.--Outer petals: Jasper red and Azalea pink body (39C and 39D) witha greenish base; Reverse side -- Azalea pink and Orient pink (39D and36D). Inside petals: Jasper red and Azalea pink body (39C and 39D) witha greenish base; Reverse side -- Azalea pink and Orient pink (39D and36D).

Petaloids:

Number.--1 to 5.

Size.--Smaller than petal.

Color.--Same as petal.

Discoloration after full bloom: Discoloration after full bloom may reachthe color RHS 36-D.

Persistence: Yes.

Lasting quality: As cut flower, at least 10 days.

Disease resistance: Fusarium oxysporum.

Fragrance: Perceptible.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Number.--6 to 8.

Arrangement.--Around the ovary.

Anthers:

Size.--Less than 0.4 cm.

Color.--Whitish.

Filaments:

Length.--About 1.2 cm.

Color.--Whitish.

Pistils:

Number.--2 to 3.

Styles:

Length.--About 1.9 cm.

Color.--Whitish.

Stigmas: Whitish.

Character of ovaries: Ribbed.

Color.--Greenish.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinctive hybrid spray carnation plant,substantially as herein shown and described, characterized in particularby its recurrent profuse production of medium sized flowers, the roundpetals of which are in general of Jasper red and Azalea pink color witha reverse side of Azalea pink and Orient pink color, said plant havingmore than 120 leaves on thick stems with moderately abundant foliage.